National research has shown
that PAT children demonstrate advanced language and problem-solving skills
compared with peers. Longer-term studies show that PAT parents remain
engaged and involved with their children's progress on into their
elementary school years. by Jill Duman, The Californian, January 11, 2003 Original URL:
http://www.californianonline.com/news/stories/20030111/localnews/754941.html
Evidence of controlled mayhem sticks to the counter of an otherwise clean
north Salinas kitchen: an open peanut butter jar, a dropper still leaking
pink medicine, an open carton of milk.
Such is the collateral damage that comes with a sick baby -- and
9-month-old Jorge is definitely sick.
His 26-year-old mother, Veronica, made two trips to the doctor and finally
came back with the diagnosis she was suspecting: a painful ear infection
in the aftermath of a cold. Cesar, the 6-year-old is off at school, but
Leonardo, just under 3, is healthy and ready to play. Samantha, the
2-year-old day-care client, clamors for a lap.
This wouldn't seem like an opportune time for a visitor, but Veronica is
ready and waiting for Maria Ramirez, a bilingual 35-year-old parent
educator from the Salinas Adult School.
Ramirez is one of 16 parent educators making in-home visits to some 240
Salinas families with babies and toddlers. One hundred of those families
were recruited from the federal Women Infants and Children nutrition
program -- meaning they meet federal low-income parameters. The estimated
$14 per-visit cost of administering the program to those families comes
out of the $8 million Safe Schools/Healthy Students grant Salinas received
nearly three years ago.
The curriculum Ramirez uses is Parents As Teachers, an international early
childhood education program designed to teach parents to recognize and
foster their child's physical, educational and emotional milestones.
Educators begin visiting the families of newborns and continue
twice-monthly home visits until the child turns 3. National research has
shown that by that age, PAT children demonstrate advanced language and
problem-solving skills compared with peers. Longer-term studies show that
PAT parents remain engaged and involved with their children's progress on
into their elementary school years.
To Leonardo, Maria Ramirez is a playmate, someone who brings new puzzles,
games and books. But to his mother, she is a resource, a guide and a
signpost on the rough-and-tumble road of parenthood.
Leonardo's lesson of the day focuses on fine motor coordination. Ramirez
brought a Styrofoam block, a toy hammer and plastic pegs so Leonardo can
practice hammering. She's also brought a nine-piece puzzle with tiny
knobs, so Leonardo can practice fitting each shape into its proper place.
She watches to see whether the toddler will get frustrated with his task.
Temperament is inborn and unique to each child, Ramirez explains to
Veronica. It is easier -- "mas facil" she says in Spanish -- when parents
and children have opposite temperaments than when they are too similar.
Veronica nods her head, adding today's lesson to the others she has
gleaned from nearly three years of PAT visits.
"I've learned to be more patient and understanding about handling
discipline," she said.
With knowledge comes confidence, and Veronica said participating in PAT
has made her more assertive -- assertive enough to get a second diagnosis
from her baby's pediatrician.
A week later, Ramirez is sitting on the floor playing with Felix, a
32-month-old high-energy toddler with two school-aged sisters. Felix's
parents are field workers. Both are home on this rainy weekday morning.
His father is home for the off-season, his mom, Maria, is seven months
pregnant with the family's fourth child.
Today, Ramirez asks Felix to pull small objects out of a plastic container
with a sock on it and explain each object's function. She watches to see
how well Felix uses his senses and follows directions.
"I have learned many things," said Maria of Ramirez's twice-monthly
visits. "I wanted to learn more about how to educate my children, and how
to discipline them in a positive way. With my two older daughters, I
yelled more often, and my daughters just yelled back."
Ramirez, who has a degree in child psychology and a decade of experience
as a parent educator, said she sees herself more as a resource than a
teacher.
"I'm not the expert. The parents are the experts," she says. "I am there
to empower their strengths."
JILL DUMAN is a Salinas-based freelance writer who works as public
communications coordinator for Safe Schools/Healthy Students. Her "Salinas
Stories" features appear weekly in the Local section.
